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The sun was going down, and the Barton park was filled with an air of contentment. The first days of summer always seemed to be the best; fireflies lazily floated about, looking like low stars, or in Howl's case, minature firedemons. His father and youngest sibling, Leyla, were out in the field trying to catch them. Well, the dark elf was anyway. Leyla was sitting on his shoulders, covering the top of a jar with her hand. Leyla three, father zero.

As for Howl himself, he was holding a jar of fireflies as well, despite sitting at one of the picnic tables and seemingly waiting for someone. Who was he waiting for, one might have wondered. Certainly not a girl, for the boy was not wearing his typical attire. No, it seemed he was quite well dressed for the park; in jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Or perhaps he was meeting with a girl whose heart, he was sure already belonged to him. Two empty jars sat next to him. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at the firedemon who was floating only barely behind him.

"Do you really think Sophie will like catching fireflies?" the wizard asked.

"It's romantic, according to the movies your older sister watches. Your style, Howell."

"What?" Howl had to look at what Sophie was pointing at. "Oh, jeans. Not exactly my style but--I thought they'd be easier to catch fireflies in." He paused to look at her, and found himself staring. "Beautiful as ever, Sophie," he said when he'd recovered. "Does your sister want to catch fireflies with us?" He offered her a jar. "I brought an extra one just in case. My little sister's over there," he gestured to Zee and Leyla.

Calcifer had floated over to Adrian. "Do you prefer firedemons over wizards?" he fizzed. "I can see that you are a respectable vampire. Has Sophie caused you any trouble? She really is too clean." He said this in a tone that betrayed his affection for the witch. He liked her company. He especially liked siding with her against Howl--but that was another story.

Howl personally thought that Sophie should dress like this everyday, but said nothing. "Yeah, she is," he nodded. "She was born... Hm, last week? She acts like she's older than everyone, though. Alot like you, actually." When she brought Deirdre over, he offered the toddler a empty jar. "We're catching fireflies," he said with a smile. "See? I've already caught some," he showed her his jar.

Calcifer frowned, and crossed flamelike arms. "I'll have you know that I am an all powerful firedemon and far more powerful than any wizard. Unless you meant you would rather fight against a wizard--in which case I do not blame you." There was a smug tone to the firedemon's voice now. "Sophie's always like that. Sticking her nose into things she shouldn't, accidently charming things... Life's never dull. Has she cut up suits yet?"

"Last week," Howl confirmed with a nod. "Doesn't look like it, though, does she?" He handed Deirdre the jar with fireflies with a smile. He had been about to let them go anyway, so he might as well let the toddler enjoy them. "Your little sister's clever," he said, glancing back at Sophie. "I like her." He took the empty jar. Well now, he could catch fireflies with Sophie and that was what really mattered.

Calcifer snickered. "You must have really annoyed her," he fizzed. "She usually saves that trait for Howl. Or for me," the firedemon shuddered. "She threatens to throw water on me. She won't now though. She won't risk hurting Howl."

Howl looked down at Deirdre with a smile. "Don't you want to hear if you're liked or not?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're clever, I like you. Do you want to stay here, and watch your fireflies? Or catch new ones with Sophie and I?" He offered a hand to Sophie, with a smile. "No talking fireflies into your jar," he teased. "That's cheating." He fell silent as Adrian walked past; clearly the wizard was still frightened of him.

Calcifer followed Adrian, zipping back and forth quite like a dragonfly. "I've seen her get angry at people for insulting Howl," the firedemon agreed. "She's also stuck her claws into me. She was a cat once, you know. When Howl was captured..." So much for a frightening vampire, Adrian seemed much kinder than Howl had described. "She lectured a djinn, even."

Zee looked up, and gave Adrian a smile. "Hello," he greeted. "Oh, no need to apologize. I apologize if I appeared rude there; I wasn't myself." He glanced over at the three children near the picnic table. "It's good Darcy finally brought Sophie here," he said. "Has she given you any trouble? Nothing worse than a living room filled with slime and a tantrum, I hope."

Leyla returned Adrian's smile, fangs and all. "I like you," she said clearly. "You belong to Leyla." With that, the infant reached for him. "You don't smell like you'd taste very good," she added.

For a moment, Howl seemed confused at Deirdre's actions. Then a look of realization crossed his features. Even without his suits, he was pulling in girls! He gave an apologetic look to Sophie, before shrugging and following her. "Come on then. What's your name? You never told me." How was he going to get away this time?

"Compromised?" Zee echoed. "I don't think I've ever been lectured for going somewhere more in my life. Did your wife give you much trouble? She had the same look my fiancee had when she forced me to go to the doctor," the elf gave a visible shiver. "Bribes accounted for, it wasn't at all worth the trouble."

Leyla frowned slightly, leaning against Adrian. "Why are you cold?" she asked, ignoring the fact that he belonged to another. Whoever he belonged to was Leyla's, and so he was her's too. It was only fair. "Like them?" she asked, flashing her fangs again. "Daddy doesn't. He's the best tasting."

Zee seemed to have ignored his daughter's statement about him being her favorite meal. "Really? She sounds worse than Howl. Does she tantrum? When he first arrived, he had a tendency to escape playpens and search for her. When he couldn't find her, he filled my living room with this horrible smelling green slime. I thought he was trying to drown himself in it! I'd much rather have that than what Sophie's done, though," he said, considering.

Calcifer gave a roll of his eyes. "You needn't fear for Howl. Arguing's how they show their affection. If they ever stop arguing--then I'll fear for Howl."

"Deirdre, hm? Pretty name." He looked over at Sophie, hoping for assistance. It was Sophie's hand he wanted to be holding, not her younger sister's, however cute said younger sister might happen to be. "You know, I'll need my hand to catch fireflies," he said, rather hopefully. Maybe he could slither out of this one after all.

Zee assumed that meant Adrian and his wife had argued. Poor man; wives were to be feared when angry. Of course, Zee couldn't talk. He had never yet managed to make Stasia upset. "Understandable," he said with a nod.

Calcifer turned to look at Sophie. Siblings? What was she on about now? Siblings? Wait. Was she making fun of him? Could she possibly be implying that he, Calcifer, an all powerful fire demon, was related to a weak creature like a firefly? Without a word to Adrian, he floated over to her. "I don't have siblings," he said haughtily.

Leyla shook her head at him. "Not that kind of cold," she said. "You feel old," she added, in after thought. "Like Daddy. Not this daddy," she gestured at Zee. "Are you fae?" she guessed.

"Spaces out... Like, forgets?" Zee was puzzled. "For limited periods of time, I'm guessing." At least she wasn't becoming a blank slate entirely, like Howl had, he thought with some relief. He glanced over to the three children, and then back to Adrian. "You know, in a way... I think they're happier here. At least, one of them. Or would be, if Morgan was here with them. Their baby, you know."

Howl frowned, and flashed a glare towards Sophie. "It's not funny!" How was he going to get out of this? He had wanted to spend time with Sophie, not her younger sister. "I need two to catch fireflies," he told Deirdre, attempting patience. "Let go, and I'll show you something."

Calcifer followed, only looking back at Howl once, snickered, and then frowned at Sophie. "Do not," he insisted. "They're bugs. I haven't got six legs."

Leyla thought about it. Something darker than fae? What could that be? The infant hadn't the slightest idea. "I don't know what you are," she said, "but you seem like a nice one, whatever you are."

Zee smirked slightly at Adrian's reaction. "Have you noticed? It's your daughter who attached herself to him, not the other way around. In fact, he was intending to give Sophie something tonight. Oh, not a kiss," he added hastily. "Let's watch and see if he can get away."